Oil pump



.April 22, E. P. REYNOLDS -l,755,516

OIL PUMP Filed oct. 24, 1927 2 sheets-sheet 1 "Tick l.

/NVENTo/e E, P Re /70/0/5;

A TTORNE YS. 4

lPI'I 22, 1930 E. P. REYNOLDS 1,755,516

OIL PUMP Filed Oct. 24, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /N VENTO/6 E, P Reyno/d5;

A TTORNE YS.

Patented Apr. 22, 1930 UNITED STATES EDWARD PETER REYNOLDS, F ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA OIL PUMP Application filed October 24, 1927. Serial No. 228,394.

My invention relates to pumps, which are adapted to be used for the purpose of pumping oil from oil wells, and it refers especially to a pump which is adapted for pumping oil or other iiuids from Wells of a considerable depth.

In reciprocating pumps, even such as are provided with a plurality of pistons and as might heretofore have been employed for the purpose of pumping oil from oil wells, the

pumping action is not continuous but is momentarily interrupted or slowed down at the end of each piston stroke, with the result that back flow of the pumped oil occurs and that the efficiency of such pumps is thereby greatly impaired. Again, such rotary pumps, as heretofore have been known in the art and might have been employed for the aforementioned purpose, are defective in therespect that they lack means for lightening the columnof oil or for breaking down its viscosity, and that they therefore can not be used for pumping oils or other liquids from Wells of a more than ordinary depth.

One object of my invention is to provide a pump with a rotor, which is adapted to be driven continuously at a high speed by a fluid, such as compressed air or gas, and with a second rotor, which is adapted to be driven by the first-mentioned rotor for continuously forcing an oil or other liquid upward, and to lead the exhaust air or gas from the first-mentioned rotor upward and to mingle the rising liquid from the second rotor with the exhaust air or gas from the first-mentioned rotor in order to lighten the column vof liquid or to break down its viscosity and thus to adapt the'pump for forcing oils or other liquids from wells of a great 40 depth. v

Another 'object of the invention is .to provide a pump with rotors of the type referred to and to mount the rotors so that they are adapted to rotate continuously in unison, and otherwise to construct the pump so that such a differential of pressure is caused between the ascending column of iuid and the ascending column of liquid that back flow of the liquid is at all times prevented and that a maximum fiow of liquid to the well is maintained and that thus also the yield of liquid from the Well is maximized.

An additional object of the invention is to arrange, in a pump of this character and in suitable chambers, one rotor above another i in anti-friction end bearings, and to provide packing and gland means between the rotors, so thatthe` liquid can not mingle with the fluid in either ofthe rotor chambers, and also to provide means by which the glands automatically compress the packings for the intermediate journal' bearings, so that the pump may be operated eiiciently for a long time at a great depth without attention.

A further object of the invention is to construct a pump of this character so that it may be contained Within a comparatively short length of pipe, thus eliminating excessively long operating elements, such as rods, or the like, which are liable to break lcreasily to get lout of order. By this construction the Weight of the pump is considerably reduced in order to adapt the pump for operation at a great depth, to reach which such a length of piping is required as materially adds to the weight of the pump and, as is common in oil Well pumps heretofore used, may cause the severance of the connected stands of pipe and thus make it impossible to continue the pumping operation until the piping has been repaired.

A still further object of the invention is to construct a pump so that the pump can be easily assembled or disassembledand that it can be manufactured at a low cost, and to arrange the parts of the pump so that they can not easily get out of order and that thus the life of the pump may be prolonged.

l/Vith the above mentioned objects and with other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and set forth in the appended claims, it heilig understood that various changes in the form, proportiomsze 9 and minor detailsof construction within the scope of the claims maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit, or Without sacriicing any of the advantages, of the invention.

lll

work, wireless work, outdoor rectifier substation, and as replacement for motor generator sets, rotary converters, etc., the automatic regulation of the density in accordance with working conditions is highly important and, in fact, well nigh indispensable as it regulates not only the efficiency but also the operating conditions and stability ot' the arc.

In the accompan ing drawings I have illustrated several orms of apparatus embodying or designed for carrying out my invention, some of these forms being shown more or less diagrammatically.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a central vertical section of an apparatus constructed in accordance with my lnvention;

Figure 2 is a section on an enlarged scale of a mechanical means for raising and lowerin the cathode; j

Figure 3 is a similar section of an electrical means for raising the cathode;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail inv section of the terminal of an anode;

Figure 5 is the vertical section of a controlling valve for the gas or vapor;

Figure 6 is a transverse section on the line 5--5 of the Figure 5;

Figure 7V is al modification of the upper part of Figure 1 and Figures 8 to 13 are wiring diagrams. n

In the form shown in Figure 1 the main chamber bulb or tank 10 of the rectifier is cast of mercury resisting non-magnetic metal, such as al nickel-iron alloy or of any other suitable material. It may include any desired number of sections or parts rigidly ,secured together in such a manner as to form air-tight joints. As shown, the bottom 11 of the chamber has an annular u standing peripheral flange 12 into which the lower edge of the peripheral wall 13 of the body extends. This wall and flange may be spaced apart to receive a packing 14 and the parts may be rigidly secured in any suitable way, as :for instance, by screws connecting a flange 15 onthe wall 13 to the upper edge of the flange 12. The lower edge of the wall 13 is shown as having a beveled end engaging with a corresponding bevel seat on the bottom 11. As previously indicated, I do not wish to be in any way limited to the number of sections or the particular sealing means for forming tight joints except as claimed.

In the lowerportion of the main tank or bulb of the rectifier is mounted the cathode. This is in the form of a shallow mercury cup 16 which may be of a size approaching that of the chamber itself. The cup is mounted so that it may be adjusted vertical- 4ly not only for regulating the length of the arc, but also for bringing the body of mercury 17 in the cup into contact with the anode or anodes. In using the device as a 3-phase single-unit vapor rectifier there are provided 3 anodes which are in the form of tubular projections 18 extendin down from the top or from a transverse wa l portion 19 ot' the chamber.

Various means may be employed for raising and lowering the cathode and such means may include mechanical or electrical means and may be controlled either automatically or manually.

In Figure 2 I have shown the bottom wall 11 of the tank or bulb provided with a depending cylinder iangel()a within which is mounted one form of mechanical mechanism which is so designed as to form an air-tight seal. The mercury cup is show-n as being rigidly secured to a threaded rod 20 mounted in a threaded aperture of a spider 21. The latter is carried by a closure plate 22 rotatable within an annular guide 23 adjacent to the lower end of the flange 10a. This closure plate 22 is mounted on a. stationary closure 24 held in place by screw threads, the two plates bein@r separated by an annular row of bearing balls 25 or other suitable anti-friction bearings. The closure 24 has a center aperture through which extends a shaft 26 to the lower end of which is secured a handle 27 or any other suitable means for rotating the shaft. For forming an air tight seal, the closure 24 has a ground bevel seat 28 engaging with a corresponding seat in the wall of the tank and between this seat and the threaded connections is a chamber 29 filled with mercury. The shaft 26 has a collar 30 presentinga beveled ground upper face engaging a ground seat on the closure 24 and below this collar is an asbestos washer 31 and an iron washer 32 and a unit 33. Around these washers is a mercury chamber 34. The chambers 29 and 34 may be filled or replenished with mercury in any suitable manner as, for instance, by means of passages 35. The closure 24 may have any suitable formation atits lower end for engagement with a wrench or key to facilitate the seating and proper tightening of the closure. It is shown as having a pair of sockets 36 for this purpose.

The shaft 26 is thus rotatable in the closure 24 and is rigidly secured to the closure plate 22 and to the handle. It will be noted that by rotating the handle, the closure plate 22 and the threaded spider on the latter may be rotated. The engagement of thcspider with the rod'20 permits the elevation or lowering of the rod 20 and the mercuryy cup if these be held against the rotation during the rotation of the handle 27. Any suitable means may be provided for holding the mercury cup against rotation as, for in stance, a formed projection 37 engaging with a rod, flange or projection 38 rigid with the tank wall and parallel to the direction of entire lengthcontact the side wall of the chamber in ordertbat a rotative movement may be imparted to the rotor body when air or gas under pressure enters through the inlet ports 21 into the chamber.v

.ldjacent to the passage 26 and separated therefrom by a wall 37, the element 18 has therein Y another passage 38, extending the major length of the element and in' its entire length communicating' with the chamber 19 through an openingrf), which at its lower end reaches almost to the bottom of the chamber so that the air or gas, entering through the inlet ports :21 into the chamber and causing rotation of the rotor body, may be quickly exhausted from the chamber through the opening 3,9 and through the passage 38. At its upper end the passage 38 connects with the lower end of the passage 23.

The lower end of the element 18 has preferably a threaded connection 40 with the upper end of a member 41, and the latter in its turn preferably has at its lower end a threaded connection 4Q with'the upper end of an element 43, the head 7. the elements 18 and 43, and the member 41 being of the same diameter and on their outsides of a cylindrical shape. and the connections 17, 40 and 4Q being such that the head 7, the elements 18 and 43, and the member 41 are held in alignment with one another when assembled. and the rotor body 30. besides being journ aled at its upper end inthe head 7 and extending downward along the wall Q7 in the element 18, also extending downward through a virtually central, longitudinal opening 44r in the member 41 and downward through a chamber 45, which is formed longitudinally in the element 43. In itsextension through the chaml ber 45 the rotor body contacts rwith an interior wall 46 in the element 43 sufliciently for preventing fluid from passing between the wall and the rotor body and at the same time allowing a free rotation of the latter in the chamber. From the chamber 45 the rotor body extends farther downward and is preferably journaled `in a bearing 47, and the rotor body is formed at its lower end .so as to be supported b v a roller bearing 4S. both bearings 47 and 48 being mounted in a head 49. which is secured b v any suitable means. such as a threaded connection 50, to the lower end ofthe element 43, and any suitable means for adjusting the end play of the rotor body may be provided, such means in the present instance being shown as a cap 51, screwed into the head 49 and having set-screws 52 therein for foreing'tbe bearings 47 and 48 from the bead when the latter is removed from tbe ele ment l v In the men'iher 41 is fmnied a longitiulinal passage 53, which is separated from the opening 44 in the member by a'wall 54 and at itsl upper end registers with the lower end of the passage 26 in the element 18 while at its 4lower end it registers with the upper end ot' a passage 55, formed longitudinally in the element 43 and communicating in itsl entire length with vthe chamber 45 through an opening in the wall 46. I i

By means of an inlet opening 56,'separated from thepassage 55 in the element 43 by a lwall 57and extending along the chamber 45 the major length of the latter, the liquid,` which enters the casing 3 from t-he oil sands 5 through the perfm'ations 4, `is allowed to flow from the casing into the chamber, and a screen 58, attached in the opening by any suitable means, such as screws 59, prevents grit or sand and other solid substances from being carried with the'liquid into the chamber. In similarity to the portion of the rot-or body adapted to rotate in the chamber 19, the portion of the rotor body adapted to rotate in the chamber 45 has also an axial slot 60 therein, and inthe slotis snugly fitted, so as to be slidable laterally of the rotor body, an iinpeller blade 6l, which is provided with rounded edges 62 and 63 for engagement with the side wall of the chamber 45 and is otherwise shaped, in similarity to the impeller blade 34 relative to the chamber 19, so that, in every rotative position of the rotor body, both of the edges 62 and 63 in their -entire length contact1 the side wall of the chamber and that thereby, when the rotor body is rotated, a suction is produced which causes the fluid in the casing to enter the chamber through the inlet opening 56.

The ends of the'opening 44 are reduced, and in these reduced ends and around the rotor body are fitted respective bushings 64 and 65, which allow the'rotor body to rotate freely therein. At its loweend the bushing 64 is provided' with a flange 66, which is adapted to bear against a seat portion formed at the initial part ot' the reduced upper end ofthe opening 44, and the bushing 65 is similai-lj.Y provided at its upper end with a iiange 6l', which is adapted to bear against a seat portion formed at the initial part of the reduced lower end of the opening. Packings (SS and 69 are respectively placed at the flanges and around the rotor body,`and glands 70 and T1, encircling the rotor body and allowing it freedom of rotation therein, are respectively adapted to compress the packings and thereby to prevent leakage of fluid around the rotor body from the chambers 19 and 45 to the opening -ll or 'troni the latter to either of the chambers. Between the glands and around the rotor body is placed an expansion .spring T2, which serres as a means for automatically compressing the parkings and thereby raking up the wear thereof so that a passage of lluid at the packings and around the rotor body is at all times prevented. An opening T3, which is snlliciently wide for allowing the insertion therethrough of the bushings. the glands andthe spring, termed in the side otthe member -11 and serves as a means for allowing these parts, at'ter their insertion into the l"tiening ll, to be assembled upon the rotor body fr to be removed therefrom whenever requi d, and, pre Iierably, cachot' the glands is provided with a wing portion 74, which may le readily gripped by the lingers in order to facilitate the insertion ot the glands into, or the removal of the glands from, the openinyl 44.

The iinpeller blade 3l in the slot 33, and the portion of the rotor body 30 rotatable in the chamber 19 may together be considered as a rotor, which for the purpose ol' description is designated by the letter A, while the impeller blade 61 in the slot GO, and the portion of the rotor body rotatable in the chamber -15 may together be considered as another rotor, which for the-same purpose is designated by the letter B. Also, for the purpose ot' further description, the pump comprising the parts already described, including the rotors A and B, may be designated by the letter C. In this connection it should beohserved that, although the chambers 19 and -15 correspond in cross-sectional dimensions with each other, the chamber 19l is intentionally made considerably longer and therefore larger than the chamber 45. Consequently, the rotor A, which extends the entire length ot the chamber 19, is correspondingly longer and therefore larger than the rotor B, which extends the entire length ot the chamber 45. Since thus, although the impeller lade 3l in the rotor A is of substantially the same width as the impeller blade 61 in the rotor B, it is considerably longer and therefore larger than the latter impeller blade, the area of the iinpeller blade 34, upon which the fluid entcrl ng the chamber 19 acts in order to cause rotation of the rotor A, is considerably greater than the area of the impeller blade 61, which is subjected to the pressure ot the liquid drawn from the oil sands 5 through the casing 8 by the rotor B. Furthermore, since the rotors are on the same rotor body and therefore are rotatable at the me speed, and since they also are of virtually the saine diameter,

from the well in which the pump is operat-` ing.

It is also evident that, when the fluid passes under pressure from the pipe 1, and through the head the casing 3, the openings 14A, the pipe G. the passages 1G and Q0 and the inlet ports Q1 into the cliainberlil, thus driving the rotor A, and from the chamber exhausts through the opening 39, the passages 38, Q3 and 22, the pipe 10, the valve 12 and the pipe 6. and is led by the latter to any suitable place, the rotor B at the same time sucks the liquid from the oil sands through the perforations 4 and into the casing 3, and thence through the opening 56 and the screen 58 into the chamber 45, from which the liquid' is discharged through the outlet opening 55 into the passage 55 and thence t'orced upward through the passages 553 and 2G and is mingled with the upward driven exhaust fluid in the passage 9B, so that the column of liquid is thereby lightened and easily carried with the fluid through the exhaust pipe 6.

As is readily understood from the foregoing description, the pump C ot' my invention, in addition to being adapted for a continuous high-speed operation at great depths in connection with oil wells or other wells, has a still further advantage over other pumps heretofore known in the art in that it comprises few parts which are not liable to get out ot' order, thus making it possible to operate the pump with' a minimum care and attention. i

I claim as my invention:

1. In a pumping apparatus of the class described, a well casing closed at its upper end, a pipe string rising within said well casing and extending outwardly of the upper closed end thereof, an oil discharge pipe rising within the lower end of'said pipe string and opening at its upper end into the same, a packingsurrounding said oil discharge'pipe adjacent its upper end, a second packing surrounding said pipe string in a plane below saidrst named packing and below an opening establishing communication between said well casing and the pipe string at a point between the saidy packings, a fluid pressure motor and pui ,p unit carried at the lower end ol said pipe string and arranged in communication therewith and the lower end of the said oil discharge pipe, and means for introd nein g a lluid into said well casing above the packing therein, said fluid being adapted to pass from said well casing int-o and downwardly of said pipe string about said oil discharge pipe to said unit to elect the o eration of the latter whereby oil will e pumped from the lower end of said well casing upwardly through said pump and from thence to and through said discharge pipe and said pipe string.

2. In a pumping apparatus of the class described, a well casing atpits upper end and perforated at its lower end, a pipe string rising within said well casing and extending outwardly of the upper closed end thereof, an oil discharge pipe rising within the lower end of said pipe string and opening at its upper end into the same, a packing surrounding said oil discharge pipe adjacent its upper end, a second packing surrounding said pipe string in a plane below said first named packing and below an opening establishing communication between said well casing and said pipe string at a point between the said packings, a fluid pressure motor and pump unit carried at the lower end of said pipe string concentrically of the perforated portion of said well casing and arranged in communication with said pipe string and the lower end of said oil discharge pipe, and means for introducing a fluid into said well casing above the packing therein, said fluid passing from said well casing into and downwardly of said pipe string about said oil discharge pipe to said unit to eect the operation of the latter whereby oil will be pumped from the lower end of said well casing upwardly through said pump and from thence to and through said discharge pipe and said pipe string.

3. In a pumping apparatus of the class described, a well casing closed at its upper end, a pipe string rising within said casing and extending outwardly of the upper closed end thereof, an oil discharge pipe rising within the lower end of said pipe string and opening at its upper end into the same, a packing surrounding said oil discharge pipe adjacent its upper end, a second packing surrounding said pipe string in a plane below said first named packing and below an opening establishing communication bet-Ween said well casing and said pipe string at a point between the said packings, a fluid pressure motor and pump unit carried at the lower end of said pipe string and arranged in communication therewith and the lower end of said oil discharge pipe, means for introducing a fluid into said well casing above the packing therein, said luid passing from said well casing and downwardly of said pipe string about said oil discharge pipe to said unit to effect the operation of the latter whereby oil will be pumped from the lower end of said well casing upwardly through the pump and from thence to and through said discharge pipe and said pipe string, and means for exhausting the fluid pressure from said pump into the oil column forced from the. pump upwardly of said oil discharge pipe whereby to assist the upflow of the oil.

4. In a pumping apparatus of the class described, a well casing closed at its upper end. a pipe string rising within said casing and extending outwardly ef the upper closed end thereof, an oil discharge pipe rising within the lower end of said pipe string and opening at its upper end into the same, a packing surrounding said oil discharge pipe adjacent its upper end, a second packing surrounding said pipe string in a plane below said first named packing and below an opening establishing communication lietween said wel] casing and `said pipe string at a point between the said packings, a fluid pressure motor and pump unit of cylindrical form having an exterior diameter uniform throughout its extent and equal to that of said pipe string to the lower end of which it is attached, said unit being arranged in communication with said pipe string and the lower end of said oil discharge pipe, and means for introducing a fluid into said well casing above the packing therein, said iluid passing from said well casing into and downwardly of said pipe string about said oil discharge pipe to said unit to effect the operation of the latter whereby oil will be pumped from the lower end of said well casino upwardly through the pump and from tience to and through said oil discharge pipe and said pipe string.

5. In a pumping apparatus of the class described, a well casing closed at its upper end, a pipe string rising within said casing and extending outwardly of the upper closed end thereof, an oil discharge pipe rising within the lower end of said pipe string and opening at its upper end into the same, a packing surrounding said oil discharge pipe adjacent its upper end, a second packing surrounding said pipe string in a plane below said first named packing and below an opening establishing communication between said well casing and said pipe string at a point between the said packings, a fluid pressure motor and pump unit of cylindrical forni having an exterior diameter uniform throughout its extent and equal to that of said pipe string to the lower end of which it is attached, said unit being arranged in communication with said pipe string and the lower end of said oil discharge pipe, means for introducing a fluid into said well casing above the packing therein` said Huid passing from said well casing into and downwardly of said pipe string about said oil discharge pipe to said unit to effect the operation of the latter whereby oil will be pumped from the lower end of said well casing upwardly through the pump and from thence to and through said oil discharge pipe and said pipe string, and an upwardly opening check valve carried at the upper end of said oil discharge pipe.

In a pumping apparatus of the class described, a well casing closed at its upper end. a pipe string rising within said casing and extending outwardly of the upper closed end thereof, an oil discharge pipe rising withinthe lower end of said pipe string and opening at its upper end into the same, a packing surrounding said oil discharge pipe adpicent its upper end, a second packing surrounding said pipe string in a plane below said first named packing and below an opening establishing communication between said well casing and said pipe string at a point between the said packings, a fluid pressure motor and pump unit of cylindrical form having an exterior diameter uniform throughout its eX- tent and equal t0 that of said pipe string to the lower end of which it is attached, said unit being arranged incomrnunication with said pipe string and the lower end of said oil discharge pipe, means for introducing a fluid into said well casing above the packing therein, said fluid passing from said well casing into and downwardly of said pipe string about said oil discharge pipe to said unit to effect the operation oli' the latter whereby oil will be pumped from the lower end of said well casing upwardly through the pump and from thence to and through said oil discharge pipe and said pipe string, a valve cage carried at the upper end of said oil discharge pipe, and a gravity valve member housed within said cage.

EDWARD P. REYNOLDS. 

